Ashland Ranger Station to close

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest announced today the Ashland Ranger Station will close on May 9 due to a significant reduction in employees there over the past several years.

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Posted Apr. 25, 2014 at 12:55 PM

Posted Apr. 25, 2014 at 12:55 PM

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The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest announced today the Ashland Ranger Station will close on May 9 due to a significant reduction in employees there over the past several years.

The Forest Service no longer needs the office and warehouse at 644 Washington St., near Exit 14, officials said.

The Forest Service is finalizing an agreement with the city of Ashland to use office space at nearby Ashland Fire Station No. 2 on Ashland Street beginning on May 14.

Services will be offered one day per week on Wednesdays from the fire station, officials said. Those services will include sales of maps and recreation passes, visitor information and the issuance of permits for special forest products such as firewood, mushrooms and rock for personal use.

On other days, services will be available at the Medford Interagency Office, 2040 Biddle Road, Medford, and the Star Ranger Station, located outside Ruch at 6941 Upper Applegate Road.

Ashland Fire & Rescue will also provide temporary work and meeting space for Forest Service employees that will allow the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District to continue working with the city of Ashland and other partners, Forest Service officials said. The city, Forest Service and other organizations have worked together for years on projects such as wildfire thinning in the Ashland watershed.

In addition, the city is providing an engine bay for a Forest Service wildland fire engine at the fire station during high fire danger months, officials said.

These actions will support the Forest Service in maintaining an active presence in the city of Ashland and will result in cost savings of $142,500 per year, Forest Service officials said.